It was not an apology from the person who had laughed, and it did not ask whether I needed help.

She glanced toward the ballroom.

“I think everyone thought you were in on it.”

“I wasn’t.”

She nodded quickly, then moved away as though the misunderstanding could be corrected simply by ending the conversation.

I did not follow her.

I did not need to persuade every person who heard the applause to reconsider their first reaction that night.

I needed dry clothes, a safe place to stand, and the right to answer honestly when somebody asked what happened.